I’m thinking about the CCIE lab exam and doing research online. The thing that pops into my head time and time again is how does everyone prepare for the lab? Searching online it seems a large number of people use either IP Expert’s or Internetwork Expert’s training materials. Now, I would love to get my hands on something like that, but I just don’t have an extra $2000 to spend and that is on top of any equipment you purchase yourself, practice lab fees, books and other training materials people may purchase, plus the cost of the lab exam itself and traveling.
Are these people independently wealthy? Insane? Lucky and work for a company that will pay for it all?
Reviewing the websites for each company that provides CCIE training material, there are a good number of people who use their materials to pass the lab exams. However, I believe a lot more pass the exams without their materials or at least there are a lot of people who do not credit them for helping pass the exam. I really am curious how people prepare. I know Cisco Press has a line of CCIE prep books. I own the R&S written exam certification guide. Should I save my pennies and purchase the practical study books too or sell everything I own and get something like the blended learning solution from IP Expert?
I would really like to have the lab books from IP Expert and the video on demand. I learn really well from video and find it helps reinforce what I have read. If any one out there has any opinions on the subject, I wouldn’t mind hearing them. I really have to pick and choose my study materials.
I think on the Cisco website/DocCD you can find 100% of the material needed to pass CCIE for free so, why buy some vendor’s material?
I’ve bought IPExpert BLS (a good choice) and had the opportunity to check CBT Nuggets from Jeremy Cioara (he’s cool!) and InternetworkExpert Class On Demand.
These materials are well organized, you get from an overview of the topic to the fine tuning of the protocol so you learn faster. Self study sometimes requires more time to search for the material to study than on the study itself.
For sure you can’t learn everything on any vendor manual, many hours must be spent on the DocCD but just starting from the DocCD could be the hardest way!
Good luck for your journey!
I agree, most CCIE training material is pretty expensive. But, if you keep an eye out, you can often grab some pretty significant discounts when vendors hold short sales to boost profits for a quarter or what have you. And like GP said, if you have the motivation, you can get far just reading the docs and practicing your own labs. For a real lab simulation though I’d recommend vendor-written material though.
Thank you both of you for your comments. I figure any exam should be passable using the vendor supplied/created materials, it’s just a matter of focusing. I plan on getting the Cisco Press practical books once I’ve taken the written. I need more time in a lab working on configurations. Right now I get to do a wide variety of stuff (wireless, security, voice), but don’t really have the chance to work on more complex routing and switching configurations, which is definitely what I need at this point.
I figure once the written is passed, then I will order the TCP/IP vol. 1 and the first practical lab book. I’ll have to watch for a sale on study materials. I should have purchased the BLS from IP Expert before the end of the year when it was half price.